Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

to'will use will sound very similar the word "doublecross."you."The Editor's PageA Letter to ArchippusPlease read Philemon 2; Col. U:17; Rev. 3:1U-21Room 334-Bed CStormont-Vail HospitalTopeka, KansasRev. J. A. Archippus, PastorFirst Christian Church23 Easy StreetLaodiceaMy Dear Brother "Kip" :I have just laid down a letter from our mutualfriend Paul in which he urges me to write to you,from which I quote: "Say to Archippus, 'Take heedto the ministry which thou hast received from theLord that thou fulfil it'." You know how anxiousPaul is concerning the welfare of all the churchesand he prays long into the night that they may allbe "filled with all the fullness of God." That is atremendous order.I am sure he is especially concerned about youand your church in Laodicea. I take from his letterthat he has information by grapevine and direct contact with the brethren that things are not all thatthey should be within your church. As I learnedfrom other sources the members that were hothearted have somewhat left their first love and havecooled down to lukewarm temperature and the laterconverts who have come into your church have nevergeneratedany heat and I regret to say that the reason seems to be, dear "Kip," you, you, YOU."This one thing I do."Dear "Kip," it is with real sorrow of heart thatI have learned that you have taken on a full timesecular job in addition to your work in the Church.I cannot believe that you consider yourself a superman and nothing less than a super-man could attendtwo such jobs faithfully. I fully realize and fullysympathize with the circumstances that have ledyou to this decision. Prices are high and our wivesare overworked and the world is so full of a numberof things that we would all like to have, and ourneighbors do have, that we feel driven to seek outsideemployment to supplement the limited wage that thechurch has been able to give us. Not only is onenot physically able for two great tasks, but is hardlylarge enough to comprehend both spheres of work.Either he will love the one and hate the other orelse he will cleave to the one and despise the other.You cannot serve God and mammon.Now, I beg of you to take a longview of thesituation you are creating for yourself. First of all,your congregation will cease to pay the salary or atleast will pay it grudgingly. They will feel you havesold your full time to them, then have turned aroundand sold it to someone else, and the words that theyBut that is only a part of it. Good preachersmust read and study day by day, not only for theimmediate weekend ahead but for the years to come.A small mental supply is not sufficient to do thework efficiently. .Moreover, you are cheating308yourself and yourwhole congregation and your rating in the eyes ofthe community in which you are. This will cut downyour influence and effectiveness, and however goodyour sermons may be, your congregation will feel allthe time that they are looking up and not being fedthe finest of the wheat.Do I have a solution for your economic problem? I should have for I met the same difficultiesin my early ministry but I cannot say that I did thebest for the situation ; however, I suggest that if youmust have outside income that you seek it throughsome employment such as writing or religious teaching that will enrich and not impoverish your spiritualwork.But I have still sadder news from your community, namely, that you have not crucified theplayboy of your earlier youth. Besides devotinga large part of your sacred time to secular pursuitsyou have not crucified your lust for fishing or perhaps for hunting, playing golf and many such likethings you do. It is true one should have occasionaldays of recreation but let your moderation be knownunto all men. A few parts of days might be devotedto some particular sport providing it is for the gloryof God and the companionship of someone whom youwant to reach for Jesus Christ but do not forget youare first of all a fisher of men and have been calledfrom the ordinary kind of fishing. If you can walkthe streets and have conversation with townspeopleso that they will feel that you are a friendly man andthat you can speak a good word in due season andleave a spiritual impression or even bring a soul toChrist, you will have a thousand times the thrillthat the largest river fish ever gave you. AfterChrist's resurrection Peter, waiting impatiently said,"I am going fishing" and a group of others said "Iwill go with As you know the Lord metthem after a hopeless, fruitless search and whenthey had pulled their full nets to the shore accordingto His command He had a quiet talk with Peter inwhich His first searching question was "Simon, sonof Jonas, Lovest thou me more than these?" ThreeTHE COVENANTER WITNESSIssued each Wednesday by the Publication Board of theREFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHOF NORTH AMERICAat 129 West 6th Street, Newton, Kansas orthrough its editorial office at 1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka, Kansasto promote Bible Standards of Doctrine, Worship and LifeFor individuals, churches and nationsOpinions expressed in our columns are those of the individual writers;not necessarily the views of the Covenanter Church or of the Editor.Dr. Raymond Taggart, D.D., Editor1209 Boswell Avenue, Topeka KansasContributing EditorsFrank E. Allen, D.D.Prof. William H. RussellWalter McCarroll. D.D.Remo I. Robb, D.D.Subscription rates :10 cents.Departmental EditorsRev. John O. EdgnrMrs. J. O. EdgarMrs. Ross Latimer$2.50 per year; Overseas, $3.00; Single CopiesThe Rev. R. B. Lyons, B.A., Limavady, N. Ireland, Agent for theBritish Isles.Entered as second class matter at the Post Office in Newton, Kansasunder the Act of March 3, 1879.Address communications to the Topeka office.COVENANTER WITNESS